City Council

PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – FEBRUARY 4, 2025 A regular meeting of the Manistee City Council was called to order by her honor, Mayor Jermaine Sullivan, on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 70 Maple Street, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. PRESENT: Julia Raddatz, Wesley Smith, Liz Laskey, Jermaine Sullivan, Kay Keck, James Grabowski, and Lani Rozga ABSENT: None ALSO PRESENT: City Manager – Bill Gambill, City Attorney – Blake Conklin (via Teams), City Clerk – Heather Pefley, DPW Director – Jeff Mikula, Finance Director – Ed Bradford, Community Development Director – Theresa Waldo, and City Engineer – Shawn Middleton COMMENTS ON AGENDA RELATED ITEMS Comments received by: - Margaret Batzer, Manistee / County Parks & Recreation Commission Vice Chair CONSENT AGENDA • Minutes January 21, 2025 Regular Meeting • Financial Reports Cash Balances December 2024 Revenue & Expenses December 2024 Balance Sheet December 2024 Quarterly Financial Update Quarterly Investment Update • Consideration of scheduling a public hearing for the Manistee Downtown Development Authority Development and Tax Increment Finance Plan amendment. The Manistee Downtown Development Authority (DDA) approved an amendment to their Development and Tax Increment Financing Plan during the regular scheduled DDA meeting on November 13, 2024. The Development and Tax Increment Financing Plan amendment adds a new section to the Development Plan that outlines a new TIF gap financing tool. This tool allows the DDA to help finance housing-related development costs in projects in the DDA district. A public hearing is required for City Council to consider adopting an amended Downtown Development Authority Plan. • Consideration of the 2025 LaborFest event. Salt City Rock and Blues proposes to hold a day long music festival on Saturday, August 30, 2025, with onsite alcohol consumption. The event will include a mini-Labor Day parade beginning at 12:30 p.m., starting at the Armory Youth Project City parking lot and proceeding west on First Street, veering right onto Lakeshore Drive, ending at the Lions Pavillion. The paid music event will be held from 1:00 – 11:00 p.m. The event will take place in Douglas | Page 1  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – FEBRUARY 4, 2025 Park, the Lions Pavilion, and the First Street Boat Launch parking lot. The event is open to all ages and an admission fee will be required for entrance. MOTION by Grabowski, second by Keck to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Raddatz, Smith, Laskey, Sullivan, Keck, Grabowski, and Rozga NAYS: None INTRODUCTION OF CARMEN KOTT, NEWLY NAMED PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE MANISTEE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. Carmen Kott introduced herself as the new President and CEO of the Manistee Area Chamber of Commerce and provided a summary of her background information. CONSIDERATION OF SUPPORTING A TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM GRANT BY THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is planning to reconstruct 4.7 miles of US-31 from M-55 to Stronach Road. MDOT is preparing a Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant submission to cover 80% of costs related to items which provide safe non-motorized transportation access for pedestrians and connections to adjacent communities. The City is requesting several pedestrian friendly items be added to this application. The City will be responsible for the 20% match for the City requested items in the amount of $141,762.00, and for future maintenance. MOTION by Rozga, second by Smith to approve the resolution of support of the TAP implementation along US-31. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Raddatz, Smith, Laskey, Sullivan, Keck, Grabowski, and Rozga NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF AWARDING A CONTRACT TO CONSTRUCT A WATER MAIN LOOP ON SPRUCE STREET, A RELIEF SEWER ON FIRST STREET AND VARIOUS OVERLAYS. Three projects were designed and bid out as a package to achieve economies of scale. Three bids were received as follows: Swidorski Bros. Excavating LLC $362,134.00 Rieth-Riley Construction $421,384.96 Hallack Contracting, Inc. $419,768.50 Engineer’s Estimate $461,478.50 The current Fiscal Year Budget includes $395,000.00 from various funds to complete the project, including engineering. | Page 2  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – FEBRUARY 4, 2025 MOTION by Laskey, second by Grabowski to approve a $362,134.00 contract with the lower bidder, Swidorski Bros. Excavating LLC, and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the documents. With a roll call vote this motion passed unanimously. AYES: Raddatz, Smith, Laskey, Sullivan, Keck, Grabowski, and Rozga NAYS: None CONSIDERATION OF APPLICATIONS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. The City Clerk has taken action to advertise vacancies on the Board of Review, Compensation Commission, and Historic District Commission. Nominations for Council appointments do not require a second. After all nominations are made, Council votes on the nominees until one nominee receives the majority support. The following application has been received: *Incumbent HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION – three vacancies, one (1) term ending 02/28/27 and two (2) terms ending 02/28/28. Purpose: historic preservation; Council appointment. *Ed Kriskywicz – 387 River Street Smith nominated Ed Kriskywicz – 387 River Street to the Historic District Commission term ending 02/28/28. With a roll call vote this nomination was unanimously approved. KRISKYWICZ: Raddatz, Smith, Laskey, Sullivan, Keck, Grabowski, and Rozga OTHER: None A REPORT FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD RESTORATION AND BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION. Mr. Lucas Richardson reported on the activities of the Neighborhood Restoration and Beautification Commission and responded to any questions the Council had regarding their activities. COUNCIL BUDGET PRIORITIES DISCUSSION City Manager Bill Gambill led the discussion on the budget priorities that were provided by Council and reviewed a spreadsheet which summarized and scored the items based on votes from each member. Gambill asked each Councilmember to briefly discuss what they would like to see reflected in the budget. Budget priorities listed and discussed: - Public Safety/Fire - Housing | Page 3  PROCEEDINGS OF THE MANISTEE CITY COUNCIL – FEBRUARY 4, 2025 - Services - Bathroom - Blight - Roads - Partnerships Gambill stated this information would be provided in his weekly update for further review and provided the next steps in the budget process. CITIZEN COMMENT Comments received by: - Karen Maue, City Parks Commission Chairperson - Margaret Batzer, Manistee - Mike Herbert, Manistee - David Gramza, Manistee - Katie Biehl, Manistee - John Veach, Manistee / Parks Commission member OFFICIALS AND STAFF None. COUNCILMEMBERS Rozga, Grabowski, Raddatz, Smith, Laskey, and Sullivan made inquiries and provided comments. ADJOURN MOTION by Smith to adjourn the meeting at 8:19 p.m. Heather Pefley, CMC / MiPMC II City Clerk | Page 4